McIntosh County Industrial Development Authority

10/23/2026

What a rewarding morning spending time with MCA's future professionals! These students brought enthusiasm, personality, and plenty of potential to the interview table. Opportunities like this remind us that workforce development starts long before the first day on the job. Proud to be part of a community that invests in its future! ⚓️💛

10/15/2026

The introduction to The McIntosh Conversation is published in this week’s edition of The Darien News! We are sharing the article here for those who may not have had a chance to read it.

This column is an opportunity to provide a better understanding of economic development, the role of the McIntosh County Industrial Development Authority, and the work that goes into supporting McIntosh County’s long-term economic future.

If you don’t already subscribe to The Darien News, we encourage you to consider doing so and supporting local journalism that keeps our community informed.
Subscribe here: https://lnkd.in/gqbWyArq

09/18/2026

Great opportunity for MCIDA to tour the Port of Savannah yesterday as part of the 2026 GEDA Annual Conference.

The Port’s role in Georgia’s economy is significant, and its proximity and connectivity will continue to play an important part in MCIDA’s strategic growth plan for McIntosh County.

Seeing the operation firsthand was a great reminder of the infrastructure and partnerships that can support future growth in our community.

09/10/2026

08/19/2026

❄️ A COOL Day for McIntosh County! ❄️

We may be a little late sharing the news, but we’re still fired up about something very cool happening in McIntosh County!

We were proud to celebrate the official ribbon cutting and grand opening of PermaCold Logistics—an exciting milestone for our community and another significant step forward for economic development in McIntosh County.

And while PermaCold may specialize in keeping things cold, this project represents a community that is anything but standing still! It means new investment, new jobs, and new opportunities, while strengthening McIntosh County’s position as a strategic location for logistics and industry along the I-95 corridor.

Projects like this don’t happen overnight. They take vision, persistence, infrastructure investment, strong partnerships, and people who believe in what is possible here. We are grateful to everyone who played a role in bringing this project to McIntosh County—and especially to the PermaCold team for choosing to invest in our community.

We think it’s safe to say: the future of economic development in McIntosh County is looking pretty cool. ❄️⚓

Congratulations, PermaCold Logistics! We are excited to have you here and even more excited about what lies ahead.

McIntosh County Industrial Development Authority — Anchored in Opportunity.

08/18/2026

⚓ THANK YOU, 100 WOMEN OF MCINTOSH! 💙

We are incredibly grateful to share that Anchor Up has been selected to receive a $5,000 gift from 100 Women of McIntosh!

This generous investment will help us continue creating meaningful experiences for our 6th- and 7th-grade students—experiences designed to reinforce confidence, character, communication skills, resilience, leadership and, perhaps most importantly, hope for their future.

Anchor Up, part of McIntosh GROWS, is truly a collaborative community effort. Our mentors have the privilege of coming alongside McIntosh County Schools and our students' families—building upon and reinforcing the important work already happening at school and at home. Together, we are surrounding young people with caring adults who consistently show up, encourage them, challenge them and remind them of what they are capable of becoming.

To the women of 100 Women of McIntosh, thank you for believing in our students and investing in the future of McIntosh County. We are deeply grateful for your generosity and for the difference you continue to make throughout our community.

And as Anchor Up GROWS, we have room for a few more mentors! ⚓ You don't have to have all the answers—you simply need to be willing to show up, listen, encourage and believe in a young person.

If that sounds like something you'd like to be part of, we'd love to hear from you!

When schools, families and communities invest in young people together, we strengthen the future of McIntosh County. 💙⚓

08/12/2026

💡 Did you know Darien, Georgia is the state's second oldest city? Our Idea Bootcamp is headed back to McIntosh County, and we can't think of a better place for it.

Our Idea Bootcamp program is a one-day intensive that takes you from an idea to a real startup plan. This program is ideal for you if:

- You have a business idea
- You don’t know where to start
- You want to test your idea
- You want to get connected to your entrepreneurial community

Plus it includes free registration and lunch!

This program is sponsored by the Darien-McIntosh County Chamber of Commerce and McIntosh County Industrial Development Authority.

📆 Friday, August 21 | 9AM to 4PM

📍 Coastal Regional Commission | 1181 Coastal Drive SW Darien, GA 31305

Your next move starts here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/fall-2026-idea-bootcamp-mcintosh-ga-tickets-1990097504207

06/11/2026

🌟 We're honored to see McIntosh GROW's Anchor Up mentoring program featured by Georgia Tech's Enterprise Innovation Institute (EI2)!

Anchor Up was created through a partnership between the McIntosh County Industrial Development Authority, the Darien-McIntosh County Chamber of Commerce, and McIntosh County Schools with a simple but powerful goal: to invest in our students today so they are prepared to lead our community tomorrow.

Through meaningful mentor relationships, leadership development, communication skills, character-building activities, and real-world experiences, Anchor Up is helping students discover their strengths, build confidence, and envision a bright future right here in McIntosh County.

A special thank you to Georgia Tech EI2 and Senior Writer Karen Kirkpatrick for sharing our story and highlighting the incredible mentors, educators, community partners, and students who make this program possible.

📖 Read the full article here:
https://innovate.gatech.edu/anchor-up-mcintosh-countys-bold-investment-in-its-future-workforce/

DARIEN, Ga. — McIntosh County, situated on Georgia’s coast, is working to reshape its economic future with a commitment to workforce development that begins before students even hit middle school. County leaders launched a program — Anchor Up — that caught the eye of Georgia Tech’s Enterpr...

05/08/2026

Great things are happening in our community and at McIntosh Middle School! 🌟⚓
This year, through McIntosh GROWS, we launched our very first Anchor Up mentoring program and culminated the year with a Mini Amazing Shake inspired by the incredible work of the Ron Clark Academy Amazing Shake program.
Throughout the school year, our mentors worked alongside students to build confidence, communication skills, manners, leadership, social skills, professionalism, and hope for the future. Watching these students grow, step outside their comfort zones, shake hands confidently, think on their feet, and believe in themselves has been something truly special.
We also want to extend our sincere appreciation to the administration and staff at McIntosh Middle School for welcoming and supporting this program throughout the school year — especially Principal Scott Brooker and Vice Principal Ami Hulett. Thank you for believing in the value of investing in students beyond the classroom and allowing us the opportunity to build this program within your school community.
And most importantly, we are incredibly proud of our students/mentees. Thank you for showing up, stepping outside your comfort zones, encouraging one another, working hard, and growing in confidence throughout this journey. Your willingness to learn, lead, and challenge yourselves made this program meaningful and successful.
A HUGE thank you to our full-time mentors who invested in these students all year long: Judy Dodd (DDA), Tom Draffin (MCIDA), Father Mike Gumulauskas, Maria Hane, Kate Pontello Karwacki (County Commissioner / Seaboard Real Estate), Sharon Long, Dionne Lovette (CRC), Ken Logue, Diane Martin, Jackie Mull, Megan Pittman (ECS Group), Rusty Quarterman, Micheal Ransom (Renasant Bank), Chad Simpson, and Byron Vaught.
And thank you to the mentors who joined us as the program gained momentum: Dr. Bob Cobb, Linda Gravitt, Jennifer High (High Tide Wings), Gretchen Logue, Jean Tinnin and Dana Vaught,.
We are also incredibly grateful to the amazing community leaders and volunteers who stepped in to lead Challenge Stations during the Mini Amazing Shake: Scott Barrett (Chick-fil-A, Margot Bragg (Howard Lumber), Joshua Dorminy (Roden Law), Jennifer High (High Tide Wings) , Tonya LaBrooy (Nautical Treasures), Mayor Pro Tem Griffin Lotson, County Commissioner Roger Lotson , Dionne Lovett (Coastal Regional Commission of Georgia), Prissy McLaine (CTAE Director McIntosh County Schools) Dr. Ande Notkes (Lucas Center for Entrepreneurship), Holden Osburn (City Manager), Lori Peacock (Golden Isles Gourmet Popcorn & Pretzels), Melissa Smith (Southeastern Bank), Ellis Tucker (Southeastern Bank), Brian Weese (GICCA), and Todd Willis (McIntosh County Academy - MCA Principal).
Special thanks as well to our generous supporters who helped make the Mini Amazing Shake and celebration luncheon possible: Darien Downtown Development Authority, Judy Dodd, Southeastern Bank, and T.R. Long Engineering.
This program would not be possible without a community willing to pour into the next generation. We are incredibly grateful for every mentor, volunteer, donor, educator, and supporter who helped make this first year such a success.
The future is bright for these students — and this is only the beginning. ⚓💙

04/22/2026

We’re grateful to see the work happening in McIntosh County being shared in such a meaningful way.
This video highlights the vision and leadership helping move our community forward—and we’re proud to be part of it.
A special thank you to Buddy Carter who took the time to tell this story.
Take a moment to watch ⬇️

1 like. "Tom Draffin"